She is very dear to me and as we reach a milestone of four years together I’d like to write a little bit about her.
We met in 2013 in Dubuque, Iowa. We were friends of friends and didn’t see each other often at first. Right away she stuck out to me. There was just something about her, some energy that she radiated, that was so unique. It hit me so hard. But being the thoughtful introvert I am I didn’t go rushing off after her right away. I thought about her a lot and when I would get to hang out with her I felt sort of drunk but hyper aware… I would get butterflies in my stomach and a feeling of my heart up in my throat. I had it bad. She noticed me but acted like she didn’t. She was a whirlwind and she wasn’t getting tied down. She was graduating soon and headed to Spain to live and work abroad for an undetermined length of time.
So my pining seemed to be in vain. It honestly shook up my whole life. At the time (late 2013/early 2014) I was working a good engineering job and was comfortable. I was comfortable but I wasn’t pushing myself. I wasn’t doing new things, I wasn’t seeing new places, I felt like I was on a path where I was trading freedom for security and I didn’t feel vital. This feeling got stronger through the year 2014 and by December I was turning down a big promotion and making plans to travel to South America for a few months.
While traveling in Peru I got back some of my vitality. It was my first time out of the U.S. and I was challenged in many ways. It was a period of growth for me and during that time Lara and I started our first real conversation. We finally seemed to be in a place where we could make a real connection and it put me on high. My feelings for her had never gone away and I felt like anything was possible together. After a few months in Peru I decided to fly to Spain and spend a few days there with her before returning to the U.S. On the flight there I was so nervous… probably the most I’ve ever been. I had hoped for so long for this chance and I didn’t know how it would go.
We talked about anything and everything and we found each other for real this time. We fell in love and this is where our four years together begins.
Over the past four years we have experienced so much. We’ve climbed mountains, we’ve swam in cenotes, we’ve ridden through the desert on a camel. We’ve slept under the stars every month of the year. We’ve traveled thousands of miles by plane, bus, train, car, motorcycle, tuk tuk, bicycle, horseback, and on foot. We’ve been across the country and around the world and we’ve made many friends along the way.
We have cooked and shared many meals, enjoyed many songs, many conversations, and many sunsets. We’ve fallen asleep and woken next to each other too many times to count. We’ve shared in each other’s victories and defeats and we’ve seen each other at our highest and lowest.
We’ve moved, changed jobs, spent time apart and spent days without leaving each other’s company. We’ve started a business together, we wrecked a car and bought a new one together, we’ve dealt with bedbugs together and we’ve taken care of each other when we are sick.
We’ve helped each other through a lot of big life choices. We’ve fought and forgiven. We’ve balanced each other and given each other new perspective. We have listened to each other’s deepest thoughts and feelings and we can be true with each other.
I am so incredibly grateful for Lara. My life would not be the same without her and will never be the same because of her. I feel like I can do anything with her by my side and I would do anything for her. She is the other part of me. I love her in a way I don’t fully understand and my love for her gives me faith that goodness is ultimate. That there is meaning even if I don’t understand it. That true love is divine.
So te quiero Lara. You are an incredible person and I love you in the grandest sense that I can with my experience of 28 years of life. Here’s to many more adventures together.
-Jake